A giant pan of seafood paella with mussels and prawns cooking over a burner

Milton Keynes · England

Paella Catering for Whaddon events

Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Whaddon. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.

Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Retirement celebrations
Garden parties and summer barbecues

Paella catering for Whaddon events

About our paella catering in Whaddon

There is something generous about paella: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. We cook paella Valenciana, mixed paella and black rice, and we are regularly asked to cater festivals, fairs and school events and retirement celebrations.

Somewhere as small as Whaddon, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.

Location: Whaddon (MK17)
Area hub: Milton Keynes
Special diets: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
Also available: Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
Quotes: Contact us for a quote
Page updated: 23 October 2026

A pan of seafood paella next to a knife and fork

FAQs for Whaddon

Which station should guests use for Whaddon?

The closest is Milton Keynes Central station, roughly 3.3 miles away.

How far is Whaddon from London?

About 46 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.

Do you cook it at the event?

Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.

Do you have a kids’ option?

Yes. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Include children in your numbers.

What happens if it rains?

We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.

Can you feed plenty of people?

Yes, that is what it is made for. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.

Can we choose the seafood?

We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.

Do you cater for vegetarian guests?

Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.

Dishes our guests love

Vegetable and vegan paella

A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.

Seafood paella

Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.

How it works

We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. Evenings in Whaddon stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.

You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.

How to prepare

Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Leave space around the cooking area
Tell us when you want to eat

Get a quote

Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.

Get a quote

Related guides

Dietary needs and planning tips

We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:

Mention any other courses or food
Count adults and children separately
Make sure most guests can sit to eat
Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs

Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.

Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.

Live paella or other catering?

Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.

Why choose Love Paella in Whaddon

Hot food served quickly from the pan
A clear, itemised quote
Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Food that becomes part of the entertainment

Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.

Planning the cooking area

Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:

Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
Parking close enough to carry equipment

If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.

Menu ideas

Vegetable paella
Chicken & chorizo paella
Mixed paella
Seafood paella
Black rice (arroz negro)
Paella Valenciana
Vegan paella

See the full menu

What paella catering costs

The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:

Starters, canapés and desserts
The number of people
Waiting and bar staff
Your choice of paellas

Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.

Details that help

When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:

The date and time of the event
Expected numbers
The venue or postcode
A picture of the space, if you can

Send us the date, your venue or MK17 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.

DIY paella versus live catering

If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.

A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.

Planning live paella in Whaddon

Whaddon is about 4 miles west of Bletchley, in Milton Keynes. Events in Whaddon are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Whaddon is one of 73 places in Milton Keynes where we cook.

For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Milton Keynes Central station, about 3.3 miles north-east. Nearby historic houses include Bletchley Park (3.5 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.

This part of Milton Keynes takes in MK17, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Ladymead Close, Vicarage Road and Briary View; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. For events just outside Whaddon, we cover Nash (2 miles west), Little Horwood (2 miles south-west), Great Horwood (3 miles south-west), Mursley (3 miles south) and Swanbourne (4 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Milton Keynes (4 miles north-east), Bletchley (4 miles east), Newport Pagnell (7 miles north-east), Bletchley and Fenny Stratford (4 miles east), Furzton (3 miles east) and Middleton (6 miles north-east).

Other landmarks nearby include Badminton Museum (3.2 miles north-east) and Hangmans Hill (3 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Furzton Lake and Blue Lagoon Park.